Six-home plan heads to Menlo council Six-home plan heads to Menlo council (March 09, 2005)

Six new three-bedroom homes could be built just off El Camino Real in Menlo Park if the City Council paves the way on Tuesday, March 8.

Under the plan by applicant John R. Hansen, the homes would be built on vacant properties at 1421 and 1423 San Antonio Avenue, a short street running parallel to El Camino between Encinal and Glenwood avenues. They would range in size from 1,670 to 1,735 square feet and have attached two-car garages, contract planner Stephen O'Connell wrote in a staff report.

Council members have already eyed the project area as a good spot for homes; in 2002, they listed it as a potential housing site to be studied in the environmental impact report for the city's housing element.

Since January, both the planning and housing commissions have unanimously recommended giving the project the go-ahead. To do so, the council must approve rezoning the lot from general commercial to planned development.

The applicant has also requested permission to pay an in-lieu fee rather than build the required number of below-market-rate units.

The owner of the neighboring Ducky's Car Wash has submitted a letter in support of the project, according to the staff report.

The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 701 Laurel St. To read the staff report, go to menlopark.org, click on "City Council" and go to the March 8 agenda.

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